by Liza Agoot (Baguio Midland Courier) ...Nathan Angara of the Noble Trends Unbound (NTU) together with Biodiesel Philippines have launched the green network, a group of restaurants and other establishments using oil and lard in cooking, that are willing
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...#1 It’s a breakthrough year for Asian biofuels science and technology. Many scientific and technological developments that simmered away in Asian labs and pilot plants in 2010 are set to burst on the scene
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In Europe, much more than in the United States, green (but not just) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are engaged loudly and aggressively in the biofuel debate. For several years now, a number of NGOs have
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) A newly-formed coalition, American Biofuels Now, has been formed in Florida with the mission to educate policymakers, media and consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of biofuels. The group has the backing of various
by Xinhua (Business Daily) A Kenyan green energy firm has announced plans to generate ethanol-based electricity. Gravitas Ltd managing director Lorna Omuondo said the company will introduce ethanol-powered cells into the market by mid year. This is expected to replace
(PR NewsWire) Several Michigan companies recently received investments from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, pushing the total investments made through the Fund to over $11.6 million. To date, 52Michigan companies have received seed funding from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan's
by Brooke Coleman (NewFuelsAlliance/Biofuels Digest) ...(W)hat’s good and what needs to be fixed in the LCFS? Where should the biofuels industry be happy, be hopeful, or be hopping mad? Brooke Coleman of the New Fuels Alliance – who knows this better
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...At risk in that budget process is the entire funding for the Section 9003 loan guarantee program – in the omnibus spending bill proposed in December by the outgoing Congress, zeroing out 9003 is exactly
(INEOS Bio) Funding will create jobs through the construction and completion of advanced commercial facility in Florida INEOS Bio and its joint venture partner, New Planet Energy, today announced they have received a conditional commitment for a $75 million loan guarantee
by Brian Wallheimer (Purdue University/Western Farm Press) The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a
by Rose Stirling (Dargaville News) Pine plantations in the Kaipara can be converted into biofuels as part of a nationwide proposal which will save the economy billions of dollars each year. Scion, formerly the New Zealand Forest Research Institute, have suggested to
(Nashville Public Radio) The state’s switchgrass initiative is looking for new investors. The program aims to turn crops of the tall perennial grass into ethanol to fuel cars. Now it’s using a new East Tennessee biorefinery to demonstrate the technology, in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Qteros and Praj will collaborate on a highly focused, multi-year development program with the objective of rapidly developing and commercializing Process Design Packages (PDPs) that enable cellulosic ethanol production using Qteros’ Q Microbe-enabled CBP platform
by Christopher Klug (Tiny Green Bubble) ...According to the Renewable Fuels Association data, the United States produced and used approximately 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009, making the US the largest producer of ethanol in the world. (Renewable Fuels
by Christopher Klug (Tiny Green Bubble) In the United States, domestic ethanol production and motor fuel additives are becoming more and more common. However, a bevy of misinformation campaigns surround the use of resources for these clean energy initiatives. These
(Virent) BIRD Energy Grant Will Support Virent's Conversion of HCL CleanTech's Pine Tree Sugars Into Hydrocarbon Fuels and Products That can be Sustainable, Cost-effective, and Compatible With Existing Infrastructure Virent Energy Systems Inc. and HCL CleanTech announced today that they have been
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) ... Some of the accomplishments include: - Construction of commercial-scale demo PBR at Lone Star College - Delivery by NAA Engineering Consortium of plans and design for the 100-acre challenge - Delivery by NAA finance team of first financial
(Green Car Congress/FavStocks) Chinese carmaker Jianghuai Automobile Co.,Ltd. (JAC) shipped 500 ethanol-powered cars to Brazil at the end of December, the first batch resulting from a deal signed in August with Brazilian dealer SHC to export 620,000 units to Brazil over
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...a lot of strong commentary from the readership on the potential for Fischer-Tropsch technologies. And brought out some very strong feelings about waste. On F-T, one reader wrote: “Expansion of FT? Hardly. Its the narrowing of
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) Boom times are ahead for a biodiesel industry that struggled just to stay alive in 2010. The industry could produce as much as a billion gallons in 2011, nearly triple this year's production, said Gary
(WBCB TV/Driving Today) Although the Obama administration slowed U.S. efforts on biofuels in favor of electric vehicles, a new report card on the renewable fuels industry shows that ethanol and biodiesel are delivering tangible economic and environmental results -- in
(Japan Today) Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation is collaborating with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co to construct and operate a bioethanol demonstration plant in Malaysia’s Selangor State. The plant will convert oil empty palm fruit branches, available year-round and in abundant
by M.S. Swaminathan(The Hindu) ... On December 26, 2010, which marks the sixth anniversary of the tsunami which caused severe damage in Tamil Nadu and other States, a Salt Satyagraha Memorial Programme is being launched at Vedaranyam by the M.S.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...For our 2010 batch of predictions, we give ourselves 6 marks out of 10. We gave ourselves 1 full mark for predicting the spread of Low Carbon Fuel Standard activity, the boom in renewable chemicals, a
(AP/The Ledger Independent) A new program to explore the viability of biofuels is seeking to establish 700 acres of switchgrass fields and is offering financial assistance to Kentucky farmers. The project follows another that began in 2007 by the Kentucky Forage and
By Don Hofstrand (Iowa State University Extension/JoplinStockyards.com) U.S. energy policy has recently moved into the background due to concerns about the current economic downturn. However, the importance of the two major drivers of energy policy - the need to wean
by Emily Bowen, Sean C. Kennedy, Kelsey Miranda (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) The aim of this project was to design a process for producing bioethanol from sugar beets as a possible feedstock replacement for corn. Currently eighty-five percent of the energy used by the United
(State Journal-Register) ...As a former secretary of agriculture, I know that continuing to encourage the ethanol industry is good for rural America and the entire nation. Ethanol generates jobs, preserves the environment, and protects our energy security. With some 17 percent
by Willie Vogt (Farm Futures) ...Cellana, an algal biofuel research company based in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is leading a consortium that includes Cornell, Duke University, San Francisco State University, the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern Mississippi. The
by Nicholas Zeman (Associated Content/Yahoo!) Asia's Largest Ag-Firm Discusses the Global Biodiesel Market ...New Diesel Magazine spoke with an official from Wilmar, on the condition of anonymity, about the implementation of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive and the efforts to ensure
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miscanthus will see a giant leap in acreage in 2011, thanks to Soperton, Ga.-based Repreve Renewables LLC. The company currently has 500 acres planted in five locations in the Southeast, which Craig Patterson,
(Reuters) China's Finance Ministry has retroactively exempted consumption tax on pure biodiesel made from waste animal fats or vegetable oils, and will refund taxes already paid over the last two years. The policy is backdated to January 1, 2009... It will make
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) 2010 is sure to be remembered as the year Asia’s biofuels boom became self-sustaining. Double digit Asian economic growth, government and private investment, international business collaborations and research networks drove progress as national policy mandates
by Katie Fehrenbacher (New York Times/GigaOM) Biofuels took a step away from the limelight in 2010, replaced by the buzz surrounding electric vehicles. But there were still a variety of policy decisions, and economic milestones that made the sector interesting
(Bloomberg) China, the world’s biggest grains user, has started an anti-dumping investigation into U.S. shipments of dried distillers’ grains, an animal feed ingredient, adding to tensions in ongoing trade disputes. The government will probe for unfair trade practices on products imported in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, we'll reach into the mailbag and voicemail box and shed some light on topics both important and bizarre, in our occasional "Biofuels Fact or Fiction" series. Q. Will the USDA really issue new loan guarantees
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) The South Sioux City Council on Monday agreed to issue $25 million in revenue bonds to help finance the proposed Nature’s BioReserves plant at the Roth Industrial Park... The 60-million-gallon-per-year plant would make clean-burning biodiesel
by George Will (The Washington Post) Cowlitz County in Washington state ...approved construction of a coal export terminal from which millions of tons of U.S. coal could be shipped to Asia annually. Both Oregon and Washington are curtailing the coal-fired generation
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) According to former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister, Americans will be paying $5 per gallon for gas by 2012 due to growing demand for oil, tighter supplies and inadequate responses by the U.S. government. His
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) Confined Animal Feeding Operations and algal biomass may have a unique link that could help move algae-to-energy developments closer to commercialization. Why? According to Thomas Byrne, president and CEO of Byrne & Company LLP, a
(Futures and Commody Markets News) Proposed legislation would create or extend a diverse array of federal programs necessary to help advanced biofuel producers secure financing for construction of first-of-a-kind projects. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) thanked Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and
(Newsvine/Just4ThePlanet) When we think of the brand Shell, we see a global group of energy and petrochemical companies in more than 90 countries and territories. We do not associate the Shell brand with Biofuels or vegetable oil diesel; we associate
(Walta Informatin Center) The (Ethiopian) Ministry of Water and Energy said that 18 investors and enterprises with over 3 billion birr combined capital have been engaged in biofuel development. Ministry Public Relations and Communications Directorate Director, Bizuneh Tolcha, told WIC today
(Khabrein) A new Swiss Study by the federal office of power and environment assured that the so-called "second generation of Biofuels" has good chances for the environment and development as well. "Second generation biofuels impress, because of the characteristic that raw materials
by Mathew Murphy (The Sidney Morning Herald) ...NSW and Queensland's attempts to increase the local ethanol industry are being stymied by the federal government's planned reduction in excise for foreign ethanol from 38¢ to 25¢ in July next year, she
by Cynthia Barnett (Florida Trend) Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in the bucket are all they have to show. On 1,000
by Fiona Harvey (Financial Times) ...Green Biologics, an unlisted company, has signed deals with two Chinese biochemical businesses – Guangxi Jinyuan Biochemical and Lianyungang Union of Chemicals. Under the deals – expected to be worth about £10m ($15m) over the next five
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The technologies are, in many cases, ready to scale. Coskata CEO Bill Roe declared a year ago now that “Coskata is open for business, ready to scale,” but the financiers we have heard about are asking
by Beata Mostafavi (Flint Journal/MLive.com) Just two months after the government allowed more ethanol in gasoline, the ongoing debate about how the greener fuel affects older cars continues to be studied in Vehicle City. The Department of Energy is funding research by
by Mark Sweney (The Guardian) A complaint to the advertising watchdog by Guardian columnist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot has caused a national press ad claiming biofuels offer a sustainable alternative to oil to be banned. The national press campaign, by the
by Allison Dowd (Winnepeg Free Press) The City of Brandon is saying goodbye to its biodiesel processor. Getting the proper licensing from Manitoba Labour to run the processor proved too expensive and time-consuming, said Rod Sage, Brandon's director of operational services. The city
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But there’s another boundary, right around 374 degrees C of temperature and 218 atmospheres of pressure. At that point, the boundary between liquid and gaseous phase water disappears, and what you have is a supercritical
(IStockAnalyst/Cedar Rapids Gazette) U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack thinks soon-to-be announced federal grants for cellulosic ethanol plants are helping boost flagging ethanol support in Congress. Vilsack said the government plans to announce measures in early 2011 to provide support
(Algae Industry Magazine) ...(W)e decided to go right to the experts and see what was on their minds over this past year. It’s pretty easy to do this in the Internet Age. Through analytics we are able to see how
(PR-Inside) Hunt Global Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tombstone Technologies Inc., (OTCBB: TMCI) announced today (December 23, 2010) that its BioSolutions Division has launched an exclusive research and product development project with Carbon Green Inc, a world leader in innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest reports that 80 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic both about their organization’s prospects for growth and industry growth, than 12 months ago, and that confidence about industry growth prospects has jumped 11
by Tom Tanton (Hawaiian Star Advertiser) Hawaiian Electric Co. has announced plans to build a facility to convert palm oil into biodiesel. The biodiesel will contribute badly needed and affordable fuel for the utility to provide electricity to Hawaii's people. The
(Mission NewEnergy) Mission NewEnergy Limited, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with JOil (S) Pte Ltd ("JOil"), a joint
by Nalin Viboonchart (The Nation(India)) US science company Dupont is working on a 10-year investment plan for Thailand, saying it does not want to miss the opportunity to expand in one of Asean's key drivers of economic growth. Carl Lukach, president
by Cary Blake (Western Farm Press) A growing U.S. agricultural biomass industry can help meet the catapulting energy and fuel demands of a global population that the United Nations predicts could reach 9 billion by 2050. “We need to envision and implement
by Bill Jones (San Francisco Chronicle) ...Separating fact from fiction in the ethanol debate is not easy. "Food versus fuel" is a nice catch phrase, but worldwide, biofuel production accounts for less than 1 percent of total agricultural acreage. Corn ethanol
by Jessica Naudziunas (NPR / KBIA / Harvest Public Media) ...Starting next season, NASCAR will use a 15 percent ethanol-gas blend. It has a bit more ethanol than E10, which many gas stations today offer as regular fuel. This year,
by Kathleen Masterson (NPR / WOI / Harvest Public Media) ...And according to USDA data, meat now costs as much as 12 percent more than last year. ...But let's get out of the kitchen for a minute — this is
(AZOCleantech) IHS, a pioneering leader providing critical data and insight, has published its first study comparing process designs and the financial side for the production of 30 million gallons per year of biodiesel from three different microalgal technological methods in
(Renewable Energy Magazine) Compact Contractors for America (CCA) has developed a dry process biofuel from algae which the company hopes will power military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles such as Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk in the not too distant future. CCA’s founder
by Teis Jensen (Reuters) Industrial enzymes producer Novozymes does not expect a major breakthrough for second-generation bioethanol in the United States for another four to five years, a senior executive said on Wednesday. Novozymes' marketing director for biofuels, Poul Ruben Andersen,
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Cellulosic ethanol costs rapidly decline, barriers are surmountable The race to commercial viability for cellulosic ethanol may be coming to a close, according to a Boston Consulting Group report. Alternative energy technologies are poised to
by Michael Devine (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Now more than ever, the oilheat industry must recreate its brand image. Integrating biodiesel into the existing petroleum infrastructure provides the oilheat marketer a new, improved liquid fuel for the existing oilheat consumer. In this
(Biodiesel Magazine) ...(Ed) Hegland, (soybean grower from Minnesota, served as the NBB chairman for the past 3 years): One thing discussed at the November board meeting was the need to re-launch and redefine biodiesel as an advanced biofuel, rather than
(National Sorghum Producers) National Sorghum Producers and the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Association (SSEA) are happy to announce a formal collaborative agreement between the two organizations. While NSP and SSEA have worked together in the past, the new collaborative agreement will allow
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The USDA’s Sarah Biddleman speaks in terms of “standing up a biofuels industry” like a pop-up children’s book, in that all the pieces have to rise up, in the right way, all at once. ... Is the
by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy.com) The U.S. military’s interest in developing algae biofuels dates back at least three years, when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) began to assess the technical capabilities needed to produce JP-8 grade jet fuel. By
by Alison Lowe (The Tribune) Bahamas Waste's biodiesel production has been delayed after the company discovered used cooking oil donated for conversion was "in far worse shape" than expected. Having expected the first batch of biodiesel to be produced at its $750,000
by Frank Morris (NPR / KCUR) ... Factoring in dramatic technical advances in both fields, most researchers figure that corn ethanol now delivers an energy gain — of about 40 percent. "But that's not really good enough," says Kovarik. "What we need is
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) Commercial production of jet biofuels could find authorisation in December under fuel specification amendments being considered by certificating body ASTM International.Enormous investments and economies of scale are far behind testing that consistently confirms the safety and
by Dana Hull (Mercury News) ...For reluctant fliers like Mellor, the recession has brought a bit of good news. It has pushed airlines to find ways to save money on jet fuel, by far their largest operating expense. That's led
(GreenAirOnline.com) Following the recent announcement that Lufthansa is set to become the world’s first airline to use biofuels on commercial flights, it has emerged that Finnair is also in discussions with the same biofuel supplier, Finland’s Neste Oil, to become
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How will the new leadership impact ethanol policies? Some strong ethanol advocates lost in the November election, including Earl Pomeroy and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, acknowledges Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. Many more
by Ben Lefebvre (Wall Street Journal) Several major U.S. oil refiners said Tuesday that they won't sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol despite recent government authorization for fuel makers to start distributing the fuel blend. Valero Energy Corp., Marathon Oil Corp. and Tesoro
by Jenny Mandel (New York Times/Greenwire) An appeals court rejected a challenge today (December 21, 2010) by petroleum industry groups to U.S. EPA's biodiesel blending requirements, in a move affirming the agency's implementation of the renewable fuel standard (RFS2). A three-judge panel of
(BIOLYFE) The BIOLYFE project aims at improving critical steps of the second generation bioethanol production process and at demonstrating the whole supply chain, from feedstock sourcing via fuel production to product utilisation. The main result will be the construction of an
(POET) New analysis outlines jobs, economic output of Project LIBERTY work POET's Project LIBERTY will generate as much as $37.8 billion in economic activity over 20 years and could employ more than 2,800 people, an independent analysis claims. A report done by Impact
by Joan Delaney (The Epoch Times) Biodiesel made from waste coffee grounds and flax oil solves the ‘food for fuel’ dilemma, says manufacturer. Spotting a thin layer of oil around the edges of a cold cup of coffee was what led Mano
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The ethanol industry needs to stop its infighting to preserve its government support beyond next year, says Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Ia. "We can't stand any more division within biofuels," said Grassley, who led a successful fight
by Jonathan Fahey (AP/Salt Lake City Tribune) ... After seven decades of mostly uninterrupted growth, U.S. gasoline demand is at the start of a long-term decline. By 2030, Americans will burn at least 20 percent less gasoline than today, experts say,
(Biotechnology Industry Organization/MarketWire) A newly introduced bill will authorize the Department of Defense (DOD) to continue its leading role in helping to commercialize next generation biofuels. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today thanked Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) for introducing the “Domestic
by Steve Gelsi and Jeffry Bartash (MarketWatch) Blend of 15% ethanol may cause problems, group warns A trade group that includes automotive giants Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. has joined forces with other vehicle and engine makers to sound a
by Charles Abbott and Timothy Gardner (Reuters) U.S. ethanol makers face a battle over reforming subsidies next year after current incentives are rolled over in the tax package signed into law by President Barack Obama on Friday. The new law extends the
(CSPNET.com) Mr. Pete's in Brunswick, Ga., teams up with Clean Fuels Foundation Protec Fuel has announced the opening of an E85 pump in Brunswick, Ga. Mr. Pete's is the first station to have Protec Fuel's imaging on its dispenser. ...The E85 site
by Misty Maynard (Maysville Ledger-Independent) A multi-year pilot project researching the possibility of using switchgrass as a biofuel is drawing to an end, but a new program is seeking to establish 700 more acres of switchgrass and is offering financial assistance
(The Himalayan Times) Two community forests of Kanchanpur district have started growing Jatropha (Sajeevan) from which biofuel can be produced. Basanta Community Forest and Sri Krishna Community Forest are into sajeevan farming with the technical and financial assistance of Crystal Bio Energy
(Bloomberg/AP) ...The city's spending panel on Wednesday approved a deal with New Generation Biofuels to start burn tests at three city facilities. If the tests are successful, the clean-burning, vegetable-based biofuels would replace heating oil in city buildings. Two Baltimore elementary schools
by (AP/The Republic) ...The Lake County Solid Waste Management District board unanimously adopted a revised contract Thursday that strips away the county's ownership of the plant that Powers Energy of America wants to build near the town of Schneider. The Times of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But a new generation of companies has come along with new ideas about how to develop scale in a world of empty wallets. You might have heard of them as Amyris, Solazyme, LS9, Gevo, Joule
(Agrivida) Agrivida, Inc. announced a collaboration with Syngenta Ventures to develop advanced crop technology that will provide low-cost sugars for a variety of industrial applications. Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta licenses to Agrivida access to crop technology and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...ZeaChem CEO Jim Imbler and Elevance’s Andy Shafer gave updates on their progress towards commercialization. Elevance, of course, has been at it a while longer, and is generally exclusively focused on chemicals, while ZeaChem has some
(Biofuels Journal) Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC announced Dec. 16 that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent number 7851188 encompassing Butamax’s isobutanol producing biocatalyst. The patent entitled “Fermentive Production of Four Carbon Alcohols” is a further demonstration
by John Funk (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) Americans who are upset about $3 gasoline won't like the latest long-term projection from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Over the next 25 years, even as the nation's thirst for oil lessens, global demand for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...This week in Honolulu, Chris Tindal of the US Navy joined advanced biofuels CEOs Jason Pyle of Sapphire Energy and Jonathan Wolfson of Solazyme at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit, to discuss the scope and scale
(China Daily) China's bioethanol production will reach 10 million tons a year by 2020, resulting in a 10 percent drop in oil imports, according to COFCO group, China's largest grain trader. ...COFCO, Novozymes and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) are
(Novasep) Joint project will offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly process to produce betaine, an animal feed ingredient in short supply Novasep Process, the bioprocess division of Novasep, a leading supplier of manufacturing solutions to the life sciences industry, and Danisco, a world
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a €5 million investment aid for a pipeline infrastructure to transport waste CO2 from a bioethanol plant in Rotterdam to greenhouses in the “Zuidplaspolder”. The waste CO2 will be used
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US House of Representatives voted by a 277 to 148 margin to approve the Obama tax deal, which extends the ethanol tax credit through 2011, and retroactively extends the biodiesel tax incentive and the renewable
(UPI) A report says the U.S. federal government must take a lead oversight role in the emerging field of synthetic biology to balance the risks and benefits. The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues issued its first report Thursday on
(University of Texas at Austin) The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator. Dorsan uses proprietary technology to create
by Jim Presswood (Switchboard) The tax bill agreed to last Thursday by Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell contains an energy package that would cause substantial environmental harm. ...The bill extends a 50 cent per gallon tax credit for liquid coal transportation
by Marc Chase (The Times/istockanalyst.com) Lake County's public-private plan to transform trash to ethanol would generate an inferior fuel with a questionable future, a former National Science Foundation official and energy adviser to the federal government said. John Regalbuto, a chemical engineering
(YLE) Finnair is set to become the first airline in the world to use fuel produced from renewable sources on regular flights. The airline aims to start fuelling its planes with biofuel next spring. Finnair airplanes could soon be powered by
(Scottrade) On December 15th, the federal government's landmark Renewable Fuels Standard officially comes into force. This will add some two billion litres of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, into the Canadian gasoline pool each and every year and change
(Bloomberg/AP) Environmentalists sued Michigan regulators Tuesday over an air quality permit issued for a planned refinery in the Upper Peninsula that will produce ethanol fuel from wood chips. The Sierra Club lawsuit contends the Department of Natural Resources and Environment violated federal
by Mal Leary (Capitol News Service/Bangor Daily News) Maine has received more cash from the federal government for the development of biofuels than any other state. The Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which was started in 2009 to encourage development of renewable fuels,
(FreshPlaza.com) Two years ago Citrotecno took its first steps with the help of a group of businessmen linked to the agriculture and livestock sector in Valencia (Spain). The main objective of the company was to use citrus waste to produce
by Dave Kolpack (AP/The Daily Republic) A North Dakota group said Monday it plans to open a test plant that would turn dry land sugar beets into ethanol, with hopes of building a dozen processing facilities throughout the state. Officials with Fargo-based
(Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. B. Greg Mitchell is a research biologist and senior lecturer at the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. ...For more than two decades Greg has promoted mass culture of algae to mitigate CO2 and
by Vinod Khosla (Foreign Policy) ...A mid-2009 report by the reinsurance giant Swiss Re found that climate change could shave off anywhere from 1 to 12 percent of GDP in many countries thanks to shifting climate zones, floods, droughts, and
by Jens Hansegard (Dow Jones/Fox Business) Danish companies see a big business potential in helping to curb the world's reliance on petrochemicals. Danisco A/S (DCO.KO) and Novozymes A/S (NZYM-B.KO), which together cover 70% of the world market for enzymes that go into
By Renee Schoof (Star-Telegram/McClatchy) At the climate talks under way in Cancun, Mexico, the U.S. has assured the world it's not backing away from its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, however, the State Department looks likely
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Although the U.S. biodiesel industry has struggled since the lapse of the $1 per gallon tax credit, renewable identification number (RIN) prices are currently trading high enough to fill that void. One factor that seems to
(U.S. Department of Energy) U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today joined seven other U.S. Government agencies in launching the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative, a coordinated effort to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency exports. In partnership with the
by Christine Kraly (NWITimes) Citing what's best for Lake County residents, a draft revised contract to bring a waste-to-ethanol plant to Schneider now puts the facility in the hands of its private operator. A proposed revision to the contract between the Lake County Solid Waste
(SynGest/BusinessWire) Mini plant will make 150 TPD of nitrogen fertilizer from biomass San Francisco, CA - (Business Wire) December 13, 2010 - SynGest Inc. announced that the Iowa Power Fund and Iowa Office of Energy Independence have approved an award contract in
(National Air and Space Administration) NASA has entered into a lease with E Green Technologies, Inc. (EGT) Kellyton, Ala., to bring the world’s largest airship to NASA Research Park at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Under the terms of
(AllAfrica.com) The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Monday, 6 December 2010 in Tunis, a €30-million senior private sector loan and a €35 million loan from the public sector window to finance the Markala Sugar project
(SBI Energy) The world is rushing to harness alternative and renewable energy sources, and global specialty pipeline infrastructure is jumping to keep up. SBI Energy estimates that the total global market for specialty pipelines will show year over year increases of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nevada, International Procurement Tools announced that they had developed a biodiesel construction platform that would bring down ‘pipe to pipe’ installed costs for a 60 Mgy biodiesel system (100,000 tons/year) to $6 million, or
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Honolulu, much of the leadership of the advanced biofuels and renewables chemicals industries have gathered this week at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit. ...(W)hat are the key trends? Here are 11 that the Digest spotted. 1.
by Fred Pearce (New Scientist) Climate negotiations were dealt a bombshell at the weekend when ecologists reported that carbon emissions from the destruction of tropical forests are probably only half previous estimates. If we are emitting less carbon dioxide from deforestation that's
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Poet LLC CEO Jeff Broin told attendees at a recent energy conference that the U.S. will need to eventually utilize the equivalent of E27 in the nation's fuel supply in order to meet renewable
(PR NewsWire/Hart Energy) The development of biofuels has increased exponentially over the past decade, and will continue to do so as many countries seek to move away from dependence on fossil fuels. However, increasing use of biofuels raises serious questions about
by Shannon Brescher Shea (U.S. Department of Energy) But a more humdrum risk of deep-frying is improperly disposing of the grease. Pouring it down the drain, which can clog municipal pipes and pollute local waterways, is actually illegal in many places.
by Anthony Esposito (Fox Business/Dow Jones) Two of the most important players in Chile's fuel and energy market, fuel and forestry conglomerate Empresas Copec SA (COPEC.SN) and power generator E-CL SA (ECL.SN), will team up to create biofuels from micro-algae. ... The
(WebWire) Airbus together with TAM Airlines and a group of specialist companies are working to establish a bio-kerosene jet-fuel processing plant in Brazil, aiming to gradually substitute fossil fuel in aviation with biofuel. On November 22nd a major milestone was accomplished
(OriginOil) Pilot Partner MBD Energy Praises OriginOil Team on Expertise and System Operation OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced the successful completion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Oak Investment venture partner (and now Aurora chairman) Brian Hinman noted that “Aurora Biofuels has made a significant genetic engineering achievement in doubling the productivity of its proprietary algae, and this round of funding will
(Diesel Technology Forum) Sulfur Content in Diesel Fuel Has Been Reduced By 97% Since 2006 This week marked a major milestone for the nation’s transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel as all highway diesel fuel in the United States complies with the
Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Minnesota-based modular ethanol production system manufacturer Easy Energy Systems Inc. recently finalized its first commercial sale and will soon begin building equipment for a 2 MMgy corn-based plant in Lake Wales, Fla. The central Florida
by Trevor Curwin (CNBC) Recent advances in production and technology have moved the ball downfield in biofuels’ big game to take market share from fossil fuels. “We’ve done it already,” says Advanced Biofuels Association president Mike McAdams, referring to the November 2010
by Alan Anderson (Newsvine) The ruling by Judge Jeffrey White on Nov. 30 ordering that the current rootstock for producing Roundup Ready sugar beet seeds be removed from the ground should be made into a positive. The Center for Food Safety,
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) The Cancun climate summit in Mexico kicked off last week at the same time as a “Cablegate” revelation that motorists buying fossil fuels at the pump are unwittingly funding terrorism in their own countries. The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ed Dineen is taking over the reigns at LS9 from Bill Haywood, who led the company from 2008, and from a #25 ranking to #4 in this year’s 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy. Salutes to Bill,
by Marion Davis (Stockholm Environment Insitute) ...SEI researchers are part of a large, collaborative project led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and funded by the European Commission to gauge the impact of bioenergy development on forests in
by Terry McDonald (EnergyBoom) ...The EPA agrees with the (U.S. Energy Information Agency) that biomass is a renewable fuel with no impact on the environment: “Although the burning of biomass also produces carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, it is considered
(The Auto Channel) A ground-breaking plant capable of turning household rubbish into ethanol is one step closer with a new company, Flex Ethanol Australia, to be formed. Making the announcement to Melbourne business leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce today, Holden
(Biofuels International) Product chemical manufacturer JSC Mogilevkhimvolokno Organic Synthesis Factory in Mogilev, Belarus, has placed an order to construct a biodiesel plant with BDI BioEnergy International. The value of the order is just under €10 million. The biodiesel production facility, which will
(Algae Industry Magazine) Australia Australian scientists are claiming the world’s best production rates of oil from algae grown in open saline ponds, following a joint $3.3 million project led by Murdoch University and involving the University of Adelaide. The claims are
by Denis Gathanju (Renewable Energy World) Could this poverty-stricken country become the world's largest biodiesel producer? Policy-makers in Ethiopia, challenged by fluctuating oil prices and poverty, are seeking solutions that will improve the living conditions of its people and boost its
(PRNewsWire) Ten companies, agencies and universities have joined an initiative between The Gas Company (TGC), and General Motors to make hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015. The plan, called the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative (H(2)I), aims to
(People's Daily) A Chinese science academy in east China's Shandong Province has clinched a deal to introduce photobioreactor technology from Chosun University in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to aid the former's research on mass producing oil-rich algae for biodiesel
by Nickolaus Bauer (Business Day) According to visiting deputy minister for foreign trade, Brazil also wants to strengthen overall trade relations with South Africa Brazil says its interested in buying agricultural land in Southern Africa to use as a source of
by Niki Koswanage (Reuters) Palm oil has production audit in place unlike other vegoils; Green palm oil production capacity growing. European Union rules requiring vegetable-oil based biofuels to come from eco-friendly sources may boost palm oil use in the sector as
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